Naomi Jamieson
Hairstyling innovations have come a long way, so much so that you don't actually need to visit the coast - and douse your hair in seawater - to achieve beachy texture. All you need is a bottle of the best sea salt spray, and we've tested an array of options to uncover exactly which formula that may be.
If you're looking to retire your best curling irons, or at least, incorporate some heatless methods to achieve a tousled look, especially in the summertime (when it's already hot enough without also having to plug your hot hair tools in and sweat through styling), a salt spray is a must-try. They allow you to lean into an 'undone' and beachy texture, with very minimal effort involved. As for how to use sea salt spray, pro hairdresser Sam McKnight explains that, "when misted onto dry or wet hair, sea salt spray defines existing texture as well as enhancing and accentuating waves and curls."
In fact, if you've ever come away from the beach thinking your hair looked better than when you arrived, a sea salt mist might just be a game-changer. With that in mind, our experts have tested some of the market's leading formulas to help you find the best option for your hair type and preferences.
6 of the best sea salt sprays, reviewed by a beauty editor
For easy, beachy tresses, these are the top six sea salt hair sprays that our Beauty Editor, Jess Beech, has tried and loved, with options to suit every budget...
RRP: £26
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
A sea salt spray that does more than simply adding beachiness, this spray combines natural sea salt with nourishing ingredients like pro-vitamin B5 and castor oil for a soft texture without any crispiness. The spray itself is quite direct, which meant that when I used it on dry hair, it left it quite wet. You’ll either like that or you won’t, but I personally thought it a good thing as it helped to refresh my hair between washes.
However, it's worth noting that my hair did take quite a while to dry afterwards, so it's perhaps not one to spritz just before leaving the house or heading into a meeting. I was pleased that it didn’t rob my hair of its shine, instead adding body and grip. Its scent is the same signature botanical fragrance as the rest of the range, which feels very grown-up and smells like I’d just left a fancy hair salon. As an added extra, there’s also UVA and UVB protection within the formula to help shield your hair from the sun.
Pros
- Nourishing ingredients
- UV protection
- Beautiful botanical scent
Cons
- Spray is quite intense
- Takes a while to dry
RRP: £29
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
Bumble & bumble is the first name that springs to mind for many when considering the best sea salt sprays, and I can see why this is such a cult favourite from the first spritz. It’s a really lovely fine mist, which manages to replicate the kind of damp, salty breeze that hazes over hair when you’re by the coast.
A couple of quick spritzes immediately gave my hair a matte texture that was the perfect remedy to freshly washed hair that felt a bit over-polished. You have to be careful not to spray too much with this spray, though, as I think it's quite easy to stray into matted rather than matte territory. Also worth noting is that a little goes a long way, so I predict this little bottle of one of the best hair styling products would last many people for ages.
Pros
- Fine mist
- Adds instant texture
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Quite matte results
RRP: £13
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
Lots of companies are making a commitment to being more environmentally friendly, but very few go as far as Lush. At their Green Hub in Dorset, they’re working towards zero waste with schemes like recycling old packaging, reusing water where possible, and donating store seconds to local charities. In other words, if it’s a more sustainable salt spray you’re after, this is the brand to shop from.
It’s formulated with actual fresh seawater alongside fine salt – a nod to their beach-side base – and the spray itself is far-reaching and super fine, which means you don’t need very much. What I wasn't expecting was the scent, which is a sense-soothing combination of grapefruit and neroli that leaves your hair smelling like a spa. It doesn’t give the hair a huge amount of hold, but it's great for quick zhoosh on any strands lacking in oomph.
Pros
- Brand with a social conscience
- Spa-like scent
- Super fine spray; you don't need to use as much product
Cons
- Lightweight hold might not work for everyone
RRP: £21.75
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
It's the little details that count and, as such, I loved that this bottle came wrapped up in star-adorned paper. This made it feel like a real treat. Inside the parcel, I was then impressed by the size of the bottle – it feels like really good value for money.
Of all the best sea salt sprays I've tried, I'd say this is the one you need to go the slowest with until you get to grips with how much you need to use to get the best results on your hair. It's quite sticky in texture, which is great for adding hold (especially close to the roots), but also means it's easy to go overboard and end up with slightly tacky hair. It also mattifies hair a bit, so ensure you tease it out with your fingers a little to avoid any tangles.
Pros
- Unique packaging
- Sweet scent
- Reasonable price point for a premium product
Cons
- Mattifies hair a little
- Requires more technique than others
RRP: £23
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
A good choice for anyone who finds that their hair can look lank and/or lack volume during the summer months, this is the best sea salt spray to inject a bit of volume. It can be used in two ways – either blow dry it in with one of the best hairdryers for fine hair to get that extra boost and hold – as well as a smooth, rather than matte, texture – or you can spritz it on and air dry for a more relaxed finish if you find this drying method suits your hair.
I'll admit that I found it a little annoying that this spray can only be used on damp hair, rather than dry hair as well. However, I imagine this is because the formula is quite sticky and heavy, so needs moisture in the hair to dilute it slightly. For extra brownie points, the salt in the formula is from the Dead Sea, and it also has a really sweet, summery scent.
Pros
- Boosts flat fine hair
- Lovely summery scent
Cons
- Can only be used on damp hair
RRP: £17.99
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
It feels slightly odd to be shopping for the best sea salt spray from a sunscreen brand, but trust us, this is one you want to know about. Sun Bum actually has an entire range dedicated to caring for your hair, whether you’re on or off the beach.
This texturising spray is formulated with Hawaiian sea salt and sea kelp (a kind of algae that looks a bit like seaweed) to leave your hair looking like you might have just hopped off a surfboard. I spritzed and scrunched it into damp hair and found that it did a brilliant job of persuading a wavy hairstyle in hair that's naturally straight or only normally verging on slightly bendy. It also doesn’t leave any residue behind, so strands still feel soft, too.
Pros
- Easy to use
- No residue
- Hair felt soft, not crunchy, after using
Cons
- Won't form waves in all hair types
How we tested the best sea salt sprays
A selection of the best sea salt sprays tested for this guide
To ensure that each of the best sea salt sprays that made it into the final guide delivered the kind of beachy texture we were hoping for, we tested all contenders on both clean hair and slightly dishevelled day three hair. Most are recommended for use on both damp and dry hair, so we made sure to try them in both instances. The products that made the list were easy to use and added texture, movement and/or hold to our tester's hair.
How to choose the best sea salt spray for your hair
The downside to this product is that even the best sea salt spray won’t necessarily suit all hair types. Pro hairdresser Michael Douglas notes that it's ideal for medium to thick hair and, additionally, hair that has blonde highlights or balayage. "It works well on fine hair, but you really have to be careful not to use too much. Length is not an issue; it works well on any hair length."
The 'undone' texture also may not be to all tastes. "It creates an interesting texture," Douglas continues. "It’s not exactly sticky but more grippy, so on the bad side it can cause the hair to knot slightly, but that’s the price you pay for the beachy texture. It’s good at creating texture, but not good for shine and smoothness."
However, the good thing about shopping for a sea salt spray is that they’re all pretty similar, so you can’t really go too far wrong. "I’ve never used a bad one," says Douglas. "It’s not about the product but more about how much you use and where you use it. They’re all good, you just need to experiment until you find the right amount and technique to get your desired look." There are some slight differences from product to product, however, so the things you’ll want to consider include the following factors.
- Price: At the risk of stating the obvious, there are some really cheap sea salt sprays and some really expensive ones. Choose one that's in line with your budget and your preferred brands.
- Scent: "Salt sprays often don’t smell that nice due to the ingredients, I think," adds Douglas. "I’m not sure why, but I’m guessing that perfume oil might not sit well with some of the other ingredients." Of the sprays that we tried, we found that some brands have definitely paid more attention to scent than others.
Our expert panel for the best sea salt sprays
With over eight years of experience in the publishing biz, Beauty Editor, Jess Beech, has written for the likes of woman&home (both print and digital), Now, Woman and Woman’s Weekly, sharing her know-how on all things skincare, hair and so on. For this guide, Jess has tested and reviewed every single sea salt spray included in this roundup on her own hair, paying close attention to the ease of application, the results and overall hold of each formula.
Sam McKnight is a pro hairdresser who is renowned for his signature 'Cool Girl' hair styling as well as his high-fashion and celebrity clientele. He has worked with the likes of Kate Moss and a plethora of other famous names and founded his own hairstyling brand, Hair By Sam McKnight.
Pro hairdresser, Michael Douglas, has over 35 years of experience in the hair industry and is the founder of mdlondon, the cult-favourite hair tool brand behind the powerful and compact BLOW hair dryer. For this guide, Douglas has shared expertise on choosing the best sea salt spray for your hair type and desired finish.